Falcons Host Pirates Tonight

Published on November 10, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


The Springfield Falcons meet the Portland Pirates for the third time this season and second time in Springfield when they drop the puck on Wednesday night. Each team has won on their home ice in the season series with Portland beating Springfield 4-2 back on October 16 and with the Falcons coming back and beating the Pirates 6-2 on October 22. The last time these two teams played Springfield scored six unanswered goals, including five in the third period, erasing a 2-0 deficit and skating away with the win.

Portland remains in first place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 10-3-1-0 on the season. Portland has a five-point lead on second place Manchester and a six-point advantage on third place Springfield.

Chad Kolarik leads the Falcons in scoring against Portland this year with three assists in two games. Tom Sestito leads Springfield in goals against the Pirates with two goals, one in each game. Goaltender David LeNeveu started both contests against Portland this year splitting the two contests.

Rookie Luke Adam continues to be off to a great start to his pro career as he leads the Pirates in scoring this year with 10 goals and seven assists for 17 points in 13 games. Adam also leads all AHL rookies in scoring and is currently 5th in the AHL's scoring race. Adam is also tied for the league lead in goals and he has one goal and three assists in two games against the Falcons this year. Teammate Mark Mancari is not far behind with seven goals and nine assists for 16 points in 14 games.

Portland currently has goaltender Jhonas Enroth on recall to the Buffalo Sabres. David Leggio has posted a record of 6-1 with a 2.82 goals against average and .913 save percentage in seven games.

FALCONS PLAYER STREAKS: Rookie defenseman John Moore is on a four-game scoring streak collecting one goal and four assists for five points in that span. Moore scored his first pro goal on October 30 and collected his first pro point on October 29.

Rookie Matt Calvert has three goals in his last two games, including his first multi-goal game on November 3 at Bridgeport. Calvert also scored in regulation on November 5 against Syracuse, while also converting in the shootout as well. Calvert leads all Falcons rookies in scoring with five goals and three assists in 12 games.

Rookie defenseman Cody Goloubef had his first multi-point game of his pro career collecting two assists on November 5 against Syracuse.

Goaltender Gustaf Wesslau made his North American pro debut on November 5 against Syracuse stopping 21 of 23 shots through regulation and overtime, followed by turning aside five of six shooters in the shootout on November 5 against Syracuse. The Falcons and Wesslau earned the 3-2 win. Wesslau missed the first 11 games of the year due to injury.

Michael Ryan recorded one goal and one assist on November 3 in Bridgeport.

Nate Guenin collected his first two assists of the season on November 3 at Bridgeport.

Defenseman Grant Clitsome had a three-game point streak from October 29-November 3 and overall he has three assists in his last four games. Clitsome leads all Falcons defensemen in scoring with one goal and five assists for six points in 12 games.

Ben Guite's next game played will be his 500th career AHL game.

Defenseman Nate Guenin played in his 300th career pro game on November 5.

The Falcons have won their last two home games evening their record to 3-3 on home ice.

The Falcons are now 2-1 in shootouts this year and 1-0 in overtime. Three of Springfield's last four games have gone to overtime.

Six of Springfield's 12 games have been decided by one goal with the Falcons posting a mark of 4-1-0-1 in that span.

ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: The American Hockey League announced earlier this month that Portland Pirates center Luke Adam was named the Reebok/AHL Rookie of the Month for October. In nine games, Adam tallied six goals, seven assists and a plus-6 rating to help the Pirates to the top of the Atlantic Division standings.

Adam's professional career began on Oct. 9 with a four-point performance, including two third-period goals, in a 6-5 win over Manchester. He had a second four-point effort a week later, scoring one goal and assisting on three others in a 4-2 victory over Springfield on Oct. 16. Adam ran his goal-scoring streak to three games with markers at Bridgeport on Oct. 17 and vs. Manchester on Oct. 19, and had a goal and two assists as part of a 6-5 win at Norfolk on Oct. 29. Adam also earned two recalls to Buffalo during the month, making his NHL debut with the Sabres at Philadelphia on Oct. 26.

In recognition of his achievement, Adam will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Pirates home game.

Adam, a 20-year-old native of St. John's, N.L., finished October at or near the top of the AHL's rookie leaderboard in goals (2nd), assists (T-1st), points (1st) and plus/minus (T-1st). He was a second-round draft choice (44th overall) by the Buffalo Sabres in 2008, and made his pro debut with the Pirates during the 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs, notching two assists in three games. Adam recorded 49 goals and 41 assists for 90 points in 56 games and was a First Team QMJHL all-star in his final junior season with Cape Breton in 2009-10.

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American Hockey League Stories from November 10, 2010


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